Modeling and Analysis of Crack Propagation in Structures

This Phase I SBIR will provide a flexible and expandable system for the simulation of crack propagation in structures. The work here will build off of years of work already invested in developing such a system. The software will be designed to be easily incorporated into existing design processes by directly utilizing CAD design geometry and existing commercial finite element analysis software. The crack propagation criteria to be initially used is one that has been validated and is currently in use at a major aerospace manufacturer, however the system will be designed to incorporate other crack growth criteria to address other types of materials. BENEFIT: The failure of engineered structures due to propagation of cracks has caused many highly visible and costly accidents in recent years in structures ranging from bridges to aircraft. Better understanding of this failure mode and ease of evaluating the potential for such failures is critical to improving the design of a wide range of products. The software developed in this project will be specifically designed for easy integration with existing design processes to reduce unexpected failures and allow further optimization of structures to reduce weight and cost.